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Fix Our Design Flop: Closet Edition

By News Jan 13, 2021 | 8:07 AM

Got a room that’s a little “meh” or not quite what you want it to be? Have any idea what to do?

Design genius Michael Murphy from Lee Douglas Interiors is in studio with Nikki & Laura on Wednesdays at 8am to answer your design questions.

With a new year comes new motivation for fresh organization.
Below, Michael has 7 Steps to Getting Organized.
We’re also talking about Nikki’s closet and the challenges of designing and organizing around a sloped ceiling and wonky layout.

Video of the closet here:

Here are 7 Steps to Getting Organized

1.ACCESS & SCHEDULE – This step is about getting mentally ready. 

2.DETACH & PURGE – Continue to look at the house as a third party. It helps to detach and not be so personal. 

3.RECLAIM & UPDATE 

4.SORT & CONTAIN – Utilitarian vs. Decorative, What To See & Not See 

5.DESIGN & BUILD – What goes where? 

6.ARRANGE & DISPLAY – Blend storage containers with decorative objects

7.CEASE & MAINTAIN –  You made it! 

This process takes time and dedication. But the payoff is a home that reflects your story and a retreat where you can breathe and relax.

1.ACCESS & SCHEDULE – This step is about getting mentally ready. 

You are not getting rid of anything in this step, you’re just evaluating

ACCESS

Tell yourself you are about to walk through someone else’s home

Your job is not to just walk through, but to snoop in every room from basement to attic

            Open every drawer

            Look under all the beds

The goal is to form an opinion of who lives there

The more you are able to detach, the more your stuff will reveal about you

Talk out loud

Take notes

SCHEDULE

Use a one-room-per-day equation, estimate how long it will take you to purge

 

2.DETACH & PURGE – Continue to look at the house as a third party. It helps to detach and not be so personal. 

 

Now that you have accessed, don’t chicken out now.

DETACH

Emotionally and physically

PURGING

Two Rounds

            Round One is getting rid of the stuff you’ll never use again

            Round Two is getting rid of clutter

Don’t worry about the harder decisions down the road-right now you need to decide on the best garbage bag. Why? Because boxes are cumbersome and you are not moving, you’re purging.

Round One is getting rid of the stuff you’ll never use again 

Round Two is getting rid of clutter

 

3.RECLAIM & UPDATE 

Taking Stock

            Objects

                        What does it need for me to be okay with it again?

                        Is it worth my time?

                        I make an update to it later – never happens

Keepsake Versus Keep

            Special objects should be featured not kept away

                        Childs baby clothes – shadow box

4.SORT & CONTAIN – Utilitarian vs. Decorative, What To See & Not See 

Nearest Is Dearest – Place things closest to where you use them will make mundane jobs better

Concealed Storage – Sort into three groups

            Seldom/Once a Year – holiday décor, legal records, winter clothing, vacation gear

                        Store in harder to reach places – attic, top of closet

            Occasional/More Than Once a Year  – office supplies, Q-tips

                        Store in cabinets, storage containers

            Every Day/3x + Week – Gadgets

                        Easy to access places – drawers

 

5. DESIGN & BUILD – What goes where? 

To get started on this step your home should be almost clutter-free– a bit pulled apart, sorting should be nearly finished and you should a have a good idea of where stuff will go and have an ongoing list of what storage needs remain.

It takes guts and honesty to get this far and you’re there!

This step is broken into three phases

Phase 1: Think It Through

What’s the rooms story? Function? How is it used?

Phase 2: Design

What do you need to achieve the goal of the room?

Phase 3: Build

            What can I do now vs. longer term budget – work in stages and when budget allows

                        Paint – cheap and quick way to change a space

 

6.ARRANGE & DISPLAY – Blend storage containers with decorative objects

This is where the real fun begins!

The art of display is what pleases your eye

Remember, You Are Creative!

            If you can get dressed in the morning and drive-in traffic, you are more than qualified to make decorating decisions in your home

Arranging – Putting things in a logical order

Display – retail solutions and inspiration

Let The Room Breathe- Don’t fill every nook and cranny.

7.CEASE & MAINTAIN –  You made it! 

You’ve made it through! For the moment everything looks good and is in its place. Remind yourself what it took to get here and remember that every time you want to bring more stuff into your home.

Make a habit of purging on a regular basis